We respond…
It is being reported that the City of Minneapolis has had to settle with another of Derek Chavin’s police brutality victims.
She too was knelt upon by Chauvin, while cuffed face down on the pavement, by this cretin with a badge (formerly).
I’m sure that makes you proud, John & Scott…
You know, you people are… what’s the word I’m looking for, here?
Right.
Deplorable.
Out.
Tonight, as a supposed deflection — from Trump’s loony tariff/trade wars (which even the WSJ has called the stupidest of foreign economic “policies” decision, in US history, BTW!), Hinderaker shows the world a chart of customs revenue — and notes that it was higher under Mr. Biden, than it was toward the end of Tangerine 1.0’s time.
Well… Duh.
That’s… stultifying, because from it, Hinderaker falsely infers that the NYT is “being mean” — in picking on Trump’s tariffs.
But Hinderaker admits that those revenues shot up under Trump, right after his tariffs 1.0. See image at right — he spiked customs revenue, but TANKED international trade for the US businesses. Idiot.
And Hinderaker admits these revenues then declined late in his term. [We all know he pulled the whole tariff idea about eight months after he started that lunacy, in 1.0. But it all takes a while to unwind through the supply chains.] Here’s how John (in an utter lie) puts his nonsense, tonight:
…So
tariff[Ed. Note: No John, you show only CUSTOMS revenue in your chart!] revenue, on average, was higher during the Biden Administration than the first Trump administration. Were the newspapers hysterical about a trade war during Biden’s term in office? Maybe I missed it….
What a dipsh!t. No, John — they were NOT, because Mr. Biden GREW our international trade, and with it, CUSTOMS duties (your revenue bars), naturally also rose.
Pure increased economic activity is the source of the increase John foolishly decries. It was precisely the removal of tariffs, by Biden — and the stimulus packages he enacted, that drove the increase Hinderaker is complaining about here.
In fact, under Tangerine 1.0… our international trade levels WITHERED. Do see my pair of charts, above right (domestic US steel was particularly hard hit), due to his tariffs, after the initial shock spike from paying for freight already on board — inbound to the US.
What a dipshit. I strongly suspect this is less about stupidity on John’s part, and more likely… just willful, wholesale… lying.
Well, this is very… discouraging. While we believe GAVI was funding work on a vaccine for the Sudan variant of Ebola, we are only aware of one candidate close enough to be used on the ground — right now: that would be the Soligenix candidate. And that one has (as the legacy graphic at right indicates) received FDA’s promising “orphan drug” designation.
But unlike with the Zaire variant, there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan variant. This presents yet another layer of difficulties, in securing informed consent from the contacts in Kampala (and the contacts of those contacts, obviously). Yikes. Here’s the latest:
…There are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola that killed a nurse employed at Kampala’s main referral hospital. The man died on Wednesday and authorities declared an outbreak the next day. Officials are still investigating the source of the outbreak, and there has been no other confirmed case….
But per STAT’s reporting of the morning, we know six are already ill, and there are 44 direct contacts to check up on. And to track down THEIR contacts.
All as… meanwhile, Nero fiddles — with idiotic tariff theatrics (bread and circuses) rather than putting out the fires ragin’ already inside Rome. Damn.
नमस्ते
The full bench trial on the merits in this case of lawless, barbarian action — which resulted in at least two deaths, and scores of lacerations, on the Rio Grande — is now set for July 8, 2025.
In the course of updating the calendar, the able USDC Judge took note of Tangerine 2.0’s purported “executive orders” (which we all know, are right now, as we speak — being challenged in the federal courts).
Admirably, USDC Judge Ezra sua sponte remarked, on these pieces of paper, and those signed by MAGA Gov. Abbott, down in Texas — saying even if they are held capable of doing what they attempt to do — they would likely violate the US Constitution. So his standing injunction has been modified in only the smallest of ways: local Texas troopers will not be arrested, if they simply aid federal ICE and border agents, in apprehending undocumented persons, so long as the local troopers remain “under the control and supervision” of the federal forces.
Here’s that, in a full seven pages, just entered on Friday:
…It is evident to this Court that Executive Order Nos. GA-50 through GA-546 issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, referenced above, are in response to President Trump’s invitation to work with the various states to secure the United States border and to direct Texas State and local law enforcement to work with, as allowed by law, federal authorities in doing so….
[A]t the time the injunction in this case was issued there was no authorization from the then-current President or Congress which would have permitted Texas State or local law enforcement agents to engage in those activities, apart from arresting individuals who were otherwise violating State or Federal law….
The injunction is hereby clarified/modified to permit Texas State or local law enforcement, including but not limited to the Texas State Guard, to cooperate with and act under the direction of Federal authorities….
[And to date, there is STILL] nothing in President Trump’s Executive Orders which would purport to permit any State of Texas Judge or law enforcement officer to engage in the actual deportation of undocumented persons from the United States as is contemplated in [a local Texas state “law” called] SB4.
Even were there such language, it would likely violate both Federal Immigration statutes and the United States Constitution. However, since no Executive Order issued by either President Trump or Governor Abbott suggests that the State of Texas possesses deportation powers, this Court need not rule on that issue beyond what is already the law of this case….
Now you know. It would seem that even Tangerine 2.0’s agents realize they lack the power to sua sponte dismiss these pieces of federal litigation — and the existing, in force injunctions previously entered by a federal court.
Onward, grinning…
नमस्ते
Tucker Carlson… is a classic nihilist.
He believes — truly believes — in almost nothing, other than making money for himself, alone. And at whatever costs there may be imposed on others… by his hateful rhetoric? He could give a rip.
What is almost… charming, in a sad sort of way… is that it took Scott and John 20 years — to figure this out. [For about 19 years, Tucker was saying the things they liked — demonizing people who don’t look like those three, together — with Paul.]
Now, he’s shifted gears — and can get more eyeballs, and ad money — all on his own, since he needs no broadcast network behind him any longer (he is literally his own “brand” now!)… by saying insipid, hateful and controversial sh!t — about Jews.
And Hitler. And sullying Churchill’s legacy.
And these boys are… shocked… shocked, I tell you. Get the fainting couches and smelling salts, you butlers.
D A M N.
Out.
This latest news would be tough, in any event — that six people are now ill, including the original nurse’s wife, from what will test out to be… ebola. It would be tough, but it is now… tragic, that certain hack political forces (now occupying DC, in key agencies’ offices) will work to impede (by blocking funding and logistics communiques), rather than foster — the ongoing vaccination efforts in Kampala.
In any event, here’s the update, on the outbreak, from STAT’s Helen Branswell:
…The head of the World Health Organization’s health emergencies program said Saturday that six people who were in contact with Uganda’s latest Ebola case have become ill, though it’s not yet clear if they too are suffering from the dangerous viral disease. One is the wife of the patient, who died Wednesday, and several others are health workers.
Mike Ryan, who spoke to STAT from Kampala, the Ugandan capital, said the response to the outbreak is proceeding rapidly, though he noted the Trump administration’s freeze on aid has created shortfalls in key areas that the WHO has had to cover….
Now you know. What a putz that Tangerine guy is. Hopefully, even without American input and leadership — or perhaps, in spite of American idiocy — the outbreak will be small and short-lived, thanks to the solid scientific efforts of WHO, and Ugandan public health workers, on the ground in Kampala.
नमस्ते
We did talk (in Iteration 1.0, at great length) about what a stupid, discredited, self-defeating 19th Century idea Tangerine’s tariff policies represent. There was a reason he ended them in a matter of months: US consumers saw that they were paying for his tariffs, in higher prices on lots of goods. [B2B noticed too.]
But this time around, the goof has targeted a much wider array of goods and industrial categories, in Mexico, China and Canada.
And he has signaled that if any of the three impose reciprocal tariffs on US goods — he will escalate. As we saw last time, that is simply mutually-assured self destruction, on various economic fronts. In a word, what a… putz.
Here’s just one MSM report — as Tangerine 2.0 walks us all to the cliff’s edge — with no discernible policy goal (of any kind, logically related to the tariffs) in mind, let alone well-communicated. [To blame our domestic street drugs problem on Canada is probably the most laughable lie he’s ever told.]
…Among the common Mexican imports that will now get pricier to bring into the country: fruits, vegetables, beer, liquor and electronics. And from Canada: potatoes, grains, lumber and steel….
D A M N A T I O N.
The man is a walking… talking… economics disaster, on the hoof.
Minor Update: the WSJ opinion pages quite agree with us — even down to articulating the same rationale for calling this the dumbest US economic policy move, in history. Yes, that is the capitalists’ paper of record. Onward.
नमस्ते
Once again, as he has on at least 30 prior documented screeds, John Hinderaker thinks that what is true of one, or a few — is true of all.
It is the most classic of all forms of racists’ logical fallacies.
He would tell us that when he moved to Minneapolis in the 1970s, only those nice (Lutheran) whyte boys played high school basketball. And they said “yes, sir!” and “yes ma’am!” to everyone.
That there was never a fight at, or after a game, in the parking lot of any high school (or inside the gym). That never, ever was blood-shed seen between rivals, in football or baseball or soccer or wrestling in high school grudge matches [do see an ugly all-whyte prep school HS soccer brawl from 2012 there, John?!].
Sure — cooly racist story, bro.
In point of fact, far more crime in Minnesota — and the nation generally — is committed by whyte native born Americans, than by brown or Black immigrants — in absolute numbers. [Oddly, Russian immigrants are disproportionately represented in the US crime stats (relative to the size of their population), when they immigrate into the US — especially white collar financial crimes.]
But no — John thinks it is all just one brown wave — from immigrants born in Somalia, and Muslims from the world over. Damn.
What an a$$hole — feckless and malignant.
Out.
This is a small clean up — from stuff I didn’t get to, last month. Here are two posts, comparing Abbott to Baxter — for Q4 2024 — on the dimension of respective lobby spends.
You’ll notice that these two are tiny, compared to the majors. But now the series — looking back almost five years, as to these two, is thus kept complete. [To be certain, over the past two years, Baxter’s organic challenges are limiting what it spends on lobbying — even as the 2024 election year shrank spending industry-wide.]
Hungry for more? Just use the search box, for their names — to see the history, here. You’re welcome. Heh.
…Baxter ($560,000):
▲ Issues related to pharmaceutical pricing. Issues related to drug shortages. Issues related to ESRD reimbursement….
▲ Issues relating to drug pricing, ESRD reimbursement for Hemodialysis, 340B Drug pricing, device sterilization. Issues relating to safe mobility and issues relating to diabetic retinopathy. Issues relating to pandemic preparedness act. H. Res. 550 and H.R. 4421. Issues related to artificial intelligence technology in healthcare; issues related to Hurricane Helene, and HR 10445, Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2025….
▲ Issues related to increasing funding for Strategic National Stockpile. Labor, Health, and Human Services appropriations….
▲Taxation of multinational companies. Monitor tax reform proposal relating to corporate tax policies….
And… the Part II, of II:
…Abbott ($1,080,000):
▲ S. 2477/H.R. 1770 Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act; Proposals related to medical device cybersecurity; Proposals related to heart valve repair technologies; Proposals related to sterilization of medical devices; Proposals related to testing for malaria; Proposals related to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)….
▲S. 1000/H.R. 1835 Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act; H.R. 1691, Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2023; Proposals related to Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitors; Proposals to ensure Medicare coverage for emerging medical device technology; Proposals regarding PAMA regulations and changes to modernize and update the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule….
▲ Proposals related to U.S. global health programs and pandemic preparedness; Proposals to advance global virus surveillance; Proposals regarding infant and child nutrition; Proposals related to tariffs on products imported into the United States….
▲ Proposals related to access to infant formula….
▲ Public Law 115-97 The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; Public Law 117-169 Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; Proposals to reform domestic and international tax structures….
You may wish to compare the above, to the series of four others (most recently) on Amgen, Pfizer, Merck and Lilly — just look back through January archives, here.
Onward — into a mild cloud dappled Saturday afternoon, here — while we wait to see if Shumate decides he needs to say some more insipid, illiterate-of-US-history… ish — on the purported “freeze” by his boss, Tangerine 2.0, in DC District Court, tonight. Heh.
नमस्ते
Within a week of Tangerine 2.0 saying the US would be withdrawing its funding from WHO, we see an entirely new flare up, of the dread Ebola virus — and in a bustling, crowded capital city of about 1.8 million people, no less.
In addition, the fatality occurred among hospital workers — leaving a real possibility of much wider spread.
For now, the focus must be on vaccinating all the host/nurse’s known contacts — and then tracing the contacts, of those contacts. They all ought to be vaccinated, Mr. Kennedy — despite your loony theories. [The NewLink/Merck ZEBOV vaccine (branded now as Ervebo®) is over 98% effective, in multiple prior outbreaks, in preventing transmission and/or host infection.]
Here’s the latest from CBS — as we all look toward DC, and cringe at the prospect that junk science may cost lives, across the ocean.
…A nurse in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, has died of Ebola, a health official said Thursday, in the first recorded fatality since the last outbreak ended in 2023. Diana Atwine, permanent secretary of the health ministry, told reporters the 32-year-old male patient was an employee of Mulago Hospital, the main referral facility in Kampala….
At least 44 contacts of the patient have been listed, including 30 health workers and patients at the hospital in Kampala, according to Uganda’s Ministry of Health….
What a strange, chaotic time this is, in the US life sciences sector, at least. All the result of…. willful ignorance, or worse.
नमस्ते
